Ditching machine



M. PAUL DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATIONk FILED APR.26.1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET I.

INVENTOR. MX PaLLL BY Q 2 ATTORNEY 5 Lb. p e s um n OU A...u uw DI M. PAUL.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPucATxoN FILED Amze, |920.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

` INVENTOR. Max Paul BY QQ 33%; ATTORNEY M.. PAUL.

DITGHING MACHINE.

APPL|cAT|oN FILED APR. 2s, |920.

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

INVENTQR.

\: BY ATTORNEY M* PAUL.

DITCHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR-26,4920.

1,428,055. Patemdsept. 5,1922.

v5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

IN VEN TOR.

Max Para?,

ATTORNEY IVI. PAUL.

DITCHING MACHINE.

. APPLICATION FILED APR.26,1920.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

IHIHIHH INVENToR.

ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 5, 1922,

iaiaess MAX PAUL, OF STOCKTON, CALIFORNIA.

DITCHTRTG. MACHINE.

appiiceaon inea .apra ee, i920.J sei-iai no. avanza T all 'Lu/20m t 07mg/ concern.'

Be it known that li, MAX PAUL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stockton, in the county of San Joaquin and State of California, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Ditching lilachines gwhich may also be usedfor sub-soilingand`A other purposes.

rEhe principal object of my invention is to provide a digger boom struct-ure carrying one or more endless chains having digging blades thereon, which chains will be driven at both ends of the boom, while at the same time permitting the boom to be raised and lowered to dig at different depths, or to clear the ground entirely. y f

l have also positioned the digger structure so that the saine slants ahead, thus permitting the digging to take place in that direction also, so that the digger blades will be forced into the ground and will act in a manner similar to that of a hand-shovel. A larger quantity of dirt will therefore be raised than with the present type in which the diggers aire dragged through the dirt,`

and tlielatter is scraped rather than being' actually dug. l alsoprovide an arrangement for throwing the load and strain of each digger blade onto the sprocket wheels on which the di gger-chains turn, rather than are relieved of practically all strain.

rllhis enables nie to either utilize a lighter structure than is now employed for thesame work, or if the same sized chain is used, it`

a single main shaft, the drives being so arranged that the drive shaft itself may be cut olf from the engine, or each different driven unit independently cut ont frein operation'with the remainder,a

on the chains theniselves, so that the latterr box. i

'The arrangement and positioningof 'my digging structure relative to the machine as a. whole, permits the dirt dug and raised to be deposited to the rear ofthe machine, either to one or both sides thereof, orinto lthe ditch excavated, in the event that the machine isbeing used as a sub-soiler to re-v new the soil'or to alter the relative position of thestratathereof, rather ythan to actually dig ditches as such. l I'have also provided a means for allowing the driven wheels of the machine to be positioned in diiferent transverse'alineinent, without interrupting` the driving thereof, so that said wheels may be positioned to traverse ieldsy havingrows of crops'sown Aat varying distances apart.` f

These objects l accomplish by means'of suoli structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the iollowing specication and claims.'

lln the drawings similar characters of reff erencefindicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. l is a side elevation of the complete ditching machine, showing the digging member raised from the ground, the lowered position being indicated in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a rrear end view of the same. Fig. .3 is a diagrammatic plan lview of the chassis, showing the various drives from the main shaft and the power plant.

yFig. 4 is an enlarged detached rear end view, partly broken to shorten the saine and partly in section of the digger structure with the' chain removed. c,

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side elevation of the upper end of the digging structurm the chain being removed.

liig a cross section taken on aline 6 6 of Fig. l, showing the guides for the guides for said frame on the chassis of the machine. y

Fig. 7 is a cross section taken on a line 7 7 of Fig. l showing the centei-drive gear Fig.' 8 is a detached fragmentary sideelevation of the lower end of the digger frame,` with the chain removed.

Fig; 9 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view ofthefchain and digger blade structure, partly broken ont.

Figli) is a fragmentary cross section of a driving wheel of the machine, showing' the digger chains on the frame thereof, and the method of attaching an auxiliary tread portion, and the adjustable driving ring-gear.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary view showing the multiple pulley arrangement for raising the digger structure.

Fig. 19. is an enlarged sectional view of the drive gearing from the countershaft to the vertical driven digger shaft.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of a diggerchain sprocket wheel.

Fig. 14 is a sectional view of the sime.

F ig. 15 is a view of the sprocket wheel with the chain passing therearound, showing the engagement of the chain digger blades with the lugs on the sprocketk wheel.

Referring now more particularly to the numerals of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 denotes the main frame of the machine, of any suitable construction. Mounted on the forward end of the frame is a power plant 2, preferably a gas engine, having a master clutch 3 interposed in the drive or engine shaft e, actuated by a pedal 5 positioned within working reach of the driver from his seat 6.

Front wheels 7 support the forward end of the frame 1, being connected in any desired fashion to be steered from a wheel S.

Turnably mounted to the frame on each side of the shaft fl and parallel thereto are shafts 9 and 10. The shaft 9 rhas an individual friction clutch 11 interposed therein, actuated by a lever 12, while the shaft 10 has a similar clutch 13 actuated by a lever 14. rllhe purpose of these clutches is to allow the same to slip, should either driven member encounter some obstruction which would otherwise tend to brealr such member. ward of these clutches, these shafts are operatively connected with the shaft el to turn at any desired ratios of speed, by gearing or chain drives, such as is indicated at 15. lf desired, I may employ a number of such drives from the engine shaft to the counter shafts, c specially the shaft 9, using different ratios of turning.y each one being` controlled by individual clutches.

The shaft 9 extends into a transmission box 16, having the usual shift-gears therein, which are actuated by a hand-lever 17.

A shaft 9a, capable of course of different speeds, projects rearwardly from the box 1G and is connected in driving relation as by a chain 1S to a stub shaft 19 positioned centrally of the frame 1.

This shaft drives transverse shafts 2O by means of bevel gears 21, the driven gear of which is formed with a differential enclosed in a housing 22, as is common automobile practice, and for the same purpose.

0n the out-er ends of the shafts 2O are pinions 23 meshing with internal ring-gears 211 secured by removable lugs or arches 25 to truss-bars 26 secured to the rims 27 of drive wheels 28 turnable and slidably mount- Fory ed on a fixed shaft 29, the latter being relatively long.

The hubs 28 of these wheels are held in transverse alinement on the shaft 29 by means of collars 30 thereon. When it is desired to alter the transverse position of the drive wheels, the collars 30 are loosened and shifted', the lugs 25 removed and replaced by longer or shorter ones to maintain the ring gears 24 in meshing alinement with the pinions 23, without disturbing the latter.

By this means, the distance between the wheels may be altered to accommodate the machine to diderent width rows.

When it is desirable to increase the width of the ground-bearing surface of 'the wheels, l employ auxiliary tread-members 31, held in place relative to the wheels 28 by means of common grouser-bars 32, which are fixed to the rims of both tread portions by means of clamps 33:

Lateral and twisting movement of the auxiliary members relative to the main wheels may be prevented by means of connectin straps Se positioned at various points on the interior of the rims, and by suitably positioned cross brace rods or spokes removably mounted to the main wheels and auxiliary tread members.

These auxiliary members may be mounted to the permanent wheelseither adjacent the inner or outer edges thereof, as may be desired.

Beyond the clutch 13, the sanft 10 has a universal joint 35 interposed therein, from which point a shaft 10a extends to drivea vertical digger-shaft 36 a suitable distance forward of the wneel shaft 29, the exact construction of which drive will be described hereafter.

Another shaft 37, below the shaft 10, is driven therefrom forward of the `ioint J5 by gears 38. This shaft extends rearwardly a certain distance and is then connected as by a chain drive 39 to a parallel shaft et() exi'lending rearwardly under the differential housing` 22. and is then drivingly connected by bevel gears ell to a transverse shaft 4.2 positioned behind the wheels 28, ou which shafton both sides of said gearing are fixed oppositely disposed auger conveyors 13, turnable in an open ended chute il Both ends of the chute are provided with extensions dieta, pivoted to the upper ends of the chute, the latter being` provided with a plurality of holes 41th radial from' the pivotal connection, and the extensions being each provided with a single hole adapted to register with any one of the others, so that a bolt i-11C may be passed therethrough to hold the main chute and the extensions in any desired relative angular positions. By this means, the dirt may be dumped between rows of growing crops and not cover the saine. lt may also be dumped icc between two rows on each side, from the ends oit the extensions and througliflower and adjustable openings in the chute 44 on each side of the gear drive thereof, as

shown in liig.- 2.

Fixed to the digger frame members aty the upper and lower ends thereof areA centrally positioned boxes 49k into` which the digger shaft 36 projects, the lower onebeing fixed against relative vertical. movement, but the upper one being slidable vertically in the members 46, to permit of the chain being tightened,

0n the ends of the shaft 36 are bevel pinions 50 meshing with bevel gears 51 on shafts 52 turnably mounted in the boxes and projecting therethrough transversely of the frame l. These boxes are entirely enclosed, so that they may be packed with grease to ensure quiet and nonewearing operation, and to keep dirt from getting at they gears and bearings.

On the outer ends of the shafts 52 are lixed sprocket wheels 53, over which ex'- tend endless chains 54, which slide on wooden bars 55 fixed to andin the angle irons 46. Alternate linksof the chains are provided with riglit-angle brackets 56 on which are fixed transverse digging-plates:

5T extending between the chains, both outiif'ardly and inwardly therefrom, so that the inner edges just clear the back plate 45. rllhe outer ends of these plates or blades are curved upwardly as at 58 relative to their direction of movement. e

To prevent the strain of digging ofthe blades from throwing an undue load on the chains andbraokets 56, the sprocket wheels 53, and especially the lower ones, are provided with radial and outwardly projecting lugs 53a suitably positioned and adapted to permit the inner edges ofthe blades to bear up tlieieagainst when dig-k ging around the wheels (see Fig. 15). By this means., the strain on the outer edges of the blades when digging is takenby the spi'ocketwheels, while at the Same time the corresponding teeth of the sprockets are carrying the strain of the individual chain n links to which the blades are connected. Thus the chains themselves as a whole serve merely as connecting members for the blades instead of taking the whole st-iainfof dig-y ging. 'This is also on account ot the fact that the lower lsprockets being also driven, instead of lmerely idlers, each tooth becomes a power member, forcing the chain links ahead and the blades thereon into the ground.

To the outer edges of the blades, and proj ectiiig upwardly therefrom, are lixed knives 59, extending somewhat beyond the cutting edges of the blades 57.

To the forward angles 46 of the digger frame, which is on the side that ythe dirt is raised, are fixed side plates 60 extending lengthwise .of said yframe and above the outer edges of the knives 59. n By this means,

a trough is formed with the transverse back plate 45 for they retainingof the dirtdug by the blades.

Extending over the-top of the difer frame from the upper ends ofthe plaies 60 is a hood 61, projecting a suitable distance to the rear, and having its lower end open to discharge theydirt raised in the trough 6() into the conveyor 44, there being a back-stop plate 62 for said conveyor tor catch kany dirtv tending tofall to the rear thereof, and an upwardly pointing V- shaped diversion member 63 central of said conveyor 'over the driving gears thereof.

upper box 49 is a rigid frame 65 having a,

cross membery 66 i'ixed thereink and extending f therethrough, andl through which the shaft 36 passes, said shaft,having,adjustable collars 36a above and below' the cross member,

so that when the upper box 49 is adjusted,

theshaft maybe adjusted to suit;k v

The upper .end of the digger structure is held from longitudinal swaying movement bynieans of slotted and outwardly project-y ing guide pins 66L turnablvmounted on the bearing member 66, said pins being held against side strains by means of arches 67 iixed to the digger li-ame angles 47.` yThese pins engage guides or tracks 68 fixed to an f auxiliary frame structure 6) extending up# wai'dly troni the mainy framev l on each side of the digger structure, said guides being suitably shaped and curved in a verticaly plane to allow vertical moveinentof the dig-y ger structure without binding. f

The lower end yof the digger structure is held from longitudinal movement by meansv after. Also by reason of the radius rods the lower digging end of the digger structure is rigidly held in position without the nec` essity of permanently mounted guides positioned relatively low on the frame and which interfere with ground clearance when the digger structure is raised..

A shoe 71 is fixed to the rear angles 46 a sul'licient distance therefrom to clear the chain blades, and extends from the lower sprocket wheel 53 to a suitable point thereabove, to clean the ditch as the machine advances.

The drive from the shaft 10a to the digger shaft S6 is arranged as follows The rearend of said shaft is journaled in a box 7 2, and has on such end inside the box a bevel gear 7 3.

This gear meshes with a gear 74 formed integral with a similar and spaced gear 75, the two having a common hub 76. This hub is mounted on a bushing 77 which in turn is on a shaft 7 8 turnably mounted therein, in the box 72, and in a bearing 79 mounted te the frame.

The hub 76 turns in a bearing boss 8O formed integral with a box 81, similar toy the box 7 2 and positioned between the digger frame plates 45. The boss 80 is itself turna` ble in a sleeve 82 formed integral with the box 72, so that these two boxes and the gear hub and shaft are firmly yet swivelly held together. f

The digger shaft 36 projects through the box 8l and is slidable therein, and is provided with a longitudinal keyway 83. bevel gear S4 is slidably mounted on this shaft, having a key which engages the said keyway, which gear constantly meshes with the gear 75, both said gears being of course enclosed in the box 8l.

The shaft 36 is also slidable through a cross member 85, in the box 8l, the shaft 78 being fixed in said cross and terminating adjacent the shaft 36. Another shaft 86 is similarly fixed .in the cross beyond the shaft 36 and in a projected line with the shaft 78. This shaft projects through the box 8l, be` ing turnably mounted therein, and 'extends to a bearing on the chassis frame the same the shaft 7 8. Thus the two boxes are held in positive and infiexible alinement on the frame l, while permitting swivelling movement thereof.

In order to positively aline the box Sl with the digger frame and yet allow relative vertical movement thereof, the transverse sides of said box are provided with vertical guide lugs 87 (see Fig. 7) adaptedto slidably engage the edges of the inner framechannels 47 of the digger frame.

The boxes 72 andr 8l are formed in two halves, bolted together as shown at' 88, the box 8l being split vertically and the box 72 horizontally. They also have removable Leashes covers 89, so that the gears may be inspected and packed with grease without dismantling the machine.

The digging structure is held by the members 70 in a position so that it has a slight forward slope from its upper to its lower end at all times. Thus a. good portion of the digging strain is taken by the digger structure instead of only by the cnain and digger blades.

In order to raise and lower the digger structure, I provide on each side thereof multiple pulley units 90 and 91, the former being attached to the igger frame and the latter to the chassis frame.

A rope or cable 92 is operatively passed about eachset of pulleys, which is wound on a common drum-shaft 93, which is turned by a hand wheel 94 within reach of thef operator.

To brake the progress of the machine.` and to aid in steering the same, T employ independent bralres 95 on the shafts 20,' operatively connected to foot pedals 96. while an emergencybrake mechanism is also included, actuated by a hand lever 97.

Brom the foregoing description .it will be readily seen that T have produced such device as substantially fulfills the object of the invention as set :forth herein.

While this specification sets forth in detail the present and preferred construction of the device still in practice such deviations from such detail may be resorted to as do not form a departure from the spirit of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention what l claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is l. A ditching machine comprisingaframe, a power plant thereon` a vertical `digger frame suspended in the main frame and adapted for vertical movement, rotatable members on each end of the digger frame, such members carrying an endless die'qiug structure, and positively engaging thas-anic and means for driving both said. members from the power plant irrespective ofthe vertical positioning of the digger frame.

2. A ditching machine comprising a. frame, a power plant thereon, a vertical digger frame suspended in the frame and adapted for vertical movement, sprocket wheels on each end of the digger frame, such wheels carrying an endless digging str cture, and being both driven from the power plant. and means for altering the vertical positionl of said digger frame the vertical alinement of the same being maintained substantially constant.

3; A ditching machine comprising a frame, a power plant thereon, a vertical digger frame suspended in the 'frame and adapted for vertical movement, sprocket wheels on each end of the digger frame, such wheels carryingan endless digginglstructure, means diggerstructure, and means fordriving both sprocket wheels from the 'power plant'ir-r respective of such vertical positioning.

r4C, A ditching machine comprising a frame, apower `plant thereonp'a fvertical digger frame suspended in the frame and adapted for vertical movement, sprocket wheels on each end of the digger frame, such wheels Carr iin' an endless diOOinO structure a.

tat-J 2': 3

vertical shaft turnably mounted in the vertical frame operatively connected with both sprocket wheels to drive the same,` and ter frame. such wheels carrying an endless means for turning said shaft from the power plant irrespective of the vertical positioning of the digger frame.

A ditching machine comprisingawheelmounted frame, a digger frame suspended in the frame and adapted for vertical movement, sprocket wheels on each end of the latter frame, such wheels carrying an endless digging structure, a vertical shaft in the digger frame operatively connected to the sprocket wheels to turn the same, a transverse shaft on each side of the vertical shaft in the plane thereof andinounted to the main frame and to the vertical shaft,

the latter being arranged for vertical sliding movement relative to the transverse shaft, means for driving the vertical shaft from the plane of the transverse shaft, guide members on the main frame with which said members engage, and radius rods pivoted to the lower end of the digger frame and extending forwardly to the main frame and pivoted to the latter.

6. A ditching machine comprising a wheelmounted frame, a digger frame suspended in the frame and adapted for vertical movement, sprocket wheels on each end 'of the latter frame, such wheels carrying an endless digging structure, a vertical shaft in the digger frame operatively connected to the sprocket wheels to turn the saine, a box surrounding the vertical shaft slidably mounted to the digger frame `and swivelly connected to the main frame and through which the vertical shaft is slidable, a fixed box to one side of the digger frame and in alinement with and adjacent the first named box, a gear slidable on the shaft and fixed in the first named box, another gear in said n last named gears being transversely alinedv and turnably mounted in both of the boxes. 7. A ditching machine comprising a wheelinounte'd frame, a digger-frame suspended in the frame and adapted for vertical movement, sprocket wheels on each end of the latdigging struct-ure, a vertical shaft iny the digger frame operatively connected to the l sprocket wheels tof-urn'the same, a. box sur-y for altering the=k vertical position of said" side ofl `the digger frame :and 'in alinement"r with and: adjacent the first named box, la gear' slidable-onthe shaft and fixed in the first'rfnamedbox,v another gear in said box f meshing with said first named gear, and a driven gear in the fixed box formed integral with the second named gear, both said last named gear being transversely alined and turnably mounted in bothl of the boxes, and guide means at the top and bottom of the digger frame connected `with the main frame to carry the strain of digging and take the thrust off the swivel point of the vertical kshaft with the boxes.

8. 'In ay digging machine, endless chains, digging blades fixed to the chains, and upper and lower ksprocket wheels about which the chains pass, both the upper and lower sproket wheels being driven.

9. A ditching machine including a main frame, a. rigid digger frame mounted therein f and arranged for vertical movement,

sprocket wheels at both ends of the digger frame and carrying an endless digger structure, a shaft extending between the sprockets and operatively connected therewith to drive the same, a power driven shaft operatively connected with rthe first named shaft, the

axial lines of said. shafts intersecting each other, and means whereby the digger frame and vertical shaft may be moved verticallyl without distrubing the drivingielation between the shafts.

10. A ditching machine including a main frame, a rigid digger frame mounted there-` in and arranged for vertical movement, sprocket wheels at both'ends of the digger frame and carrying an endless digger strucf ture, a shaft extending between the sprocket and operatively connected therewith to drive the same, a power driven shaft operatively connected with the first named shaft, the axial lines of said shafts intersecting each other, radius rods mounted on the main frame and connected to the lower ends of the digger frame, whereby such end would normally describe an arc when moved downwardly, and means between the main frame and the upper end of the digger frame for causing said digger frame to move in a substantially straight vertical path and without throwing any strain on the shafts.

` 11. A ditching` machine including a main frame, a rigid digger frame mounted therein and arranged for vertical movement,

sprocket wheels at both ends of the digger n and operatively connected therewith to vdrive the same, a power driven Shaft operatively carried by the digger frame and riding` in the grooves, the latter being shaped to allow movement or" the digger frame in a substan-` tiaiiy straight vertical path without throwing strain on the shafts at their point of intersection.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

MAX PAUL. 

